Microsoft Plans Ad-Interrupted Gameplay on Xbox
A patent application filed by Microsoft in April and published this month reveals plans to insert ads into games on Xbox, potentially disrupting gameplay for promotional content.
The system, described as a 'Contextually Aware Management of Interactive Software Application Access,' uses triggers such as chapter ends or player choice to pause the game and show an ad. A machine learning model can also identify moments like save screens or round end screens to minimize disruption.
According to the patent, watching an ad earns what amounts to an 'ad credit,' delaying the next interruption for a set duration. This duration could be based on time, progress, or game mode, with different lengths for practice, single-player campaign, and online multiplayer modes.